Abd al-Wahhab Muhammad Abd al-Rahman al-Humayqani

Humayqani attended Sana’a University, where he specialized in Islamic Studies and International Law. He is currently a university professor and a member of the Yemen's Ulama. He is also a keynote speaker at the Imam Shawkaani mosque in Sana’a and manages a number of humanitarian relief projects under the supervision of the Ministry of Social and Labour Affairs.[5]

In June 2015, Humayqani participated to the UN-sponsored peace talks in Geneva in his capacity as member of the Yemeni government in exile. He was one of just two party leaders who participated in the talks.[3]

There have been speculations that the selection of Humayqani as one of the two Yemeni representative to attend the conference may indicate Saudi Arabia's hope that al-Rashad Union can be bolstered to compete with the Muslim Brotherhood like al-Nour party in Egypt.[10]

Humayqani's affiliation with Saudi Arabia was especially emphasized after the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated him as an al-Qaeda supporter based in Yemen who “has frequently traveled throughout the Arabian Peninsula while conducting business for AQAP.”[11] Moreover, according to a U.S. official interviewed by the Christian Science Monitor in 2014, Saudi Arabia is the country of origin of most of the backers of Humayqani's financial transfers.[12]

Humayqani also has strong ties with Qatar. He appeared on the Qatari TV channel al-Jazeera to comment on the Geneva talks.[13] Humayqani served as a “onetime adviser to Qatar on charitable giving”,[2] and was one of the local representatives of the Qatari branch of the Swiss-based human rights organization Alkarama.[1] He also attended the opening ceremony of a mosque built in Yemen, which had been mostly funded by the Qatari government, upon request of the Qatari authorities.[14]

In December 2013, the U.S. Department of the Treasury listed Humayqani as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The U.S. authorities argued that he was a fundraiser and key figure of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).[13]

The treasury refers to Humayqani as “an important figure within AQAP and reportedly had a relationship with important AQAP leaders.” The treasury blames Humayqani for orchestrating an attack on the Yemeni Republican Guard by employing many “vehicle borne explosive devices,” an operation that killed seven people. Humayqani is listed as the recruiter for an AQAP group plotting to attack officials in Yemen.[15]

Humayqani, according to the treasury, has not only provided financial support for AQAP but has also acted on their behalf by representing them in meetings to negotiate the release of soldiers being held hostage by AQAP. In addition, Humayqani directed an armed AQAP group trying to carry out attacks on government facility attacks including a government building in al-Bayda Governorate.[15][11]

According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury's statement, Humayqani exploited his role as “the head of a Yemen-based charity” to fundraise on behalf of AQAP as well as to facilitate financial transfers from AQAP supporters in Saudi Arabia to Yemen.[11]

The U.S. authorities emphasized that AQAP leadership intended to establish a new political party in Yemen supposedly led by Humayqani, which the Yemeni franchise of al-Qaeda would have used “as a cover for the recruitment and training of fighters and a means to attract broader support.”[11]

Furthermore, the U.S. charged that Humayqani issued religious guidance in support of AQAP operations along with the cleric Abd al-Majid al-Zindani.[11] Al-Zindani was a one-time mentor of Osama bin Laden[16] whom both the U.S. and the United Nations listed as an al-Qaeda loyalist and supporter.[17] Humayqani was sent to attend the opening ceremony of the mosque funded by Qatar's Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs[18] along with al-Zindani by the Qatari authorities.[13]

The U.S. Treasury did not single out Alkarama in its designation; nonetheless, there are strong elements suggesting that Alkarama is the charity concerned.[19] Humayqani said in an interview with The Christian Science Monitor that he had resigned from his charity.[12] Alkarama's implication is suggested by Humayqani's association with the other subject designated as SDGT by the U.S. Department of the Treasury at the same time, Abd Al-Rahman al-Nuaimi. Nuaimi is a Qatari history professor and founding member of Alkarama, who resigned as president of Alkarama's board shortly after the U.S. allegations were formalized.[19] Even before 2013, Nuaimi was banned from entering Saudi Arabia due to allegations of terrorist activity.[19]

The sanctions imposed on Humayqani by the U.S. Department of the Treasury consisted of the freezing of any assets he may have had under U.S. jurisdiction and sanctioning anyone who does business with him, as well as a request for extradition.[11]

President Mansour Hadi refused to extradite Humayqani and denounced the charges, which caused a wave of discontent in Yemen from the political and the religious field.[1] The Yemeni government sent the U.S. Department of the Treasury a letter condemning their designation of Humayqani.[1]

Humayqani has regularly denied all charges against him.[12] Interviewed by The Washington Post, he declared that his charities “benefit orphans, mosques and poor families, not al-Qaeda,” and that he had no objections to face trial in Yemen to defend himself against any charges.[20] He has also said that he could consider legal action in the U.S.[21]

In December 2013, NGO Monitor called on Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to immediately undertake independent investigations into their procedures for performing due diligence on potential NGO partners after it was discovered that these organizations had issued joint statements with Humayqani's charity, Alkarama. “In addition,” NGO monitor writes “these organizations have an obligation to review the status of the officials responsible for such collaborations, alliances, and affiliations.”[22] Amnesty admitted that, in the past, Alkarama helped it with information on human rights abuse cases and added that it was “unable to confirm” the accuracy of the US allegations of terror finance. Human Rights Watch declined to comment.[23]